Endodontic Treatment (Root Canals)

- Post treatment information

Endodontic treatment can take 1, 2, or 3 appointments depending on the case. It is possible to experience any of the following symptoms after any of these appointments: sensitivity to hot and/or cold; sensitivity to pressure; possible swelling. If you experience swelling, please call our office immediately as additional medication may be required.

One common occurrence with a newly root canaled tooth is for the tooth to feel high when you bite your teeth together. If this occurs it will cause your tooth to stay sensitive for a longer period of time. Please call us if your bite feels "high" as this problem is easily rectified with a simple bite adjustment.

A temporary filling may be used to temporarily seal the tooth between visits. It may flake away a little bit and this is OK. If the whole "plug" comes out, either replace it immediately, or call us so we can replace it for you.

The gum tissue could have been irritated during the procedure and may be sore for a few days together with the anesthetic injection site.

During endodontic treatment, the nerve, blood, and nutrient supply to the tooth is removed. This will cause the tooth to become brittle and prone to fracturing which could result in the need to extract the tooth. A crown or onlay is recommended to prevent this from happening.

Proper brushing, flossing, and regular 6-month (minimal) cleanings are essential to the long-term stability of your teeth.

Please note:

Do root canals always work? NO! A root canal is a therapy not a cure. It has a high success rate but almost 4% of them fail. If your root canal fails within a period of 3 years from the date of service, we will either refund the cost of your root canal or retreat your failed root canal. In addition, if the tooth cannot be saved, the cost of the crown placed in our office will be refunded during that 3-year period.